Policeman faces jail time for stealing elderly father's Lotto money
A Soweto man who took R2-million from his 85-year-old father will be sentenced to prison for fraud.
When 85-year-old Mkhatshane Manganyi of Malamulele in Limpopo first won the lottery, he did not expect that it would be those closest to him who would set to work defrauding him. Yet, that is exactly what his son, 53-year-old warrant officer Mzamani Manganyi, did.
Officer Manganyi was found guilty of fraud in the Johannesburg Specialised Commerical Crime Court after the judge heard evidence that he stole nearly R2-million of his father's earnings.
The trouble in the family began in 2011 when R1,928,950 of Manganyi senior's money was mistakenly deposited into officer Manganyi's account. The younger man did not have permission to use the money for his own benefit. He went on to use it to build a new house and to divorce his wife in favour of entertaining other women.
The elder Manganyi is deeply hurt by his son's actions and tells Sunday World that "his heart is still sore".
Officer Manganyi, who told the court that he has been employed by the South African Police Service since 1987, will be sentenced next week. His father is deeply hurt and expressed hopes that justice will be carried out to its full extent. He added: "I have nothing to say to him. I hope I get my money back."
Image: Dylan Nolte